Use for large garden/land?

MoneyJuggler

Apologies if this is the wrong place to post this.

We are looking at a house which ticks quite a few boxes for us, and although we were hoping for a good sized garden, this one comes with some falling down wooden stables and 2 acres of grassland, house is out in the sticks, obviously.

Looking to move somewhere we can hopefully stay 20 years to bring up kids etc, so not really interested in potential planning for anymore building (probably wouldn't get it anyway), and no interest in horses.

Just wondered if anyone had any ideas on potential uses for the land that would either generate a little income , and/or save money.

First thing I thought of would be growing a crop of some sort, but as a complete layman, not sure how to go about that -anyone know any useful places to look?

Not sure on any potential change of use that might be needed either -small village, but quiet a few other gardens border the grassland.

Oh should add - both OH and I work from home, so could spend probably an hour a day (ish!) on land I know that's not a lot!

Thanks for any pointers/suggestions .

RAS

Possibly use it as grazing for a few sheep or a cow? Sheep try to die according to lots of people but other think they are easier than larger livestock. Cows need less attention as long as you are going for suckling not dairy. Use an electric fence to keep the livestock moving forward, and off the land behind them. You may also get a hay crop off for winter feed.

or let the land for grazing BUT.

BIG BUT - if you allow someone to graze livestock on a piece of land for 365 days, you have created an agricultural tenancy and the value of your land plummets. Also if you are not careful, the renter strips out the value of the land by overgrazing. So you need to let for short periods and control the livestock numbers.

One of my friends keeps rare breed sheep on his own small area of land and grazes them on other paddocks within about a mile for a month or two over the summer. The owners get the grass cut and some free lamb when they go to slaughter. He get to keep a larger flock and to kill them when they have reached a decent body weight.

MoneyJuggler

RAS wrote: »

BIG BUT - if you allow someone to graze livestock on a piece of land for 365 days, you have created an agricultural tenancy and the value of your land plummets. Also if you are not careful, the renter strips out the value of the land by overgrazing. So you need to let for short periods and control the livestock numbers.

Thank you, that's very useful to know.

woodsey2002

Are the stables fixable? If so maybe consider renting out the stables with the land for horses, friend of mine did this years ago and did quite well from it.

betsie

Could you get a licence to hold boot fairs on it in the summer - the field across the road runs them from June to end sept. Charges £10 a pitch plus 50p a car and 20p a walk in person - they must make quite a bit. Not sure what licences you would need though.

olias

Does the land have it's own roadside access? If so, you could consider selling as pony paddocks. Round my way a 2 acre pony paddock would sell for £15-30k. Alternatively, as stated, fix up the stables, and rent the land and stables - should be able to easily get £25-£50 pw. Doesn't sound much, but that could be nearly £2500 pa, enough to pay for a nice holiday each year!

Olias

shegar

I would definately have a wildlife meadow, sow some wildflower seeds etc........and watch all the beautiful creatures , birds, bees ,butterflies, etc come ....and because you have children theres nothing better than getting them interested in wildlife.............put a huge wildlife pond in the middle it will attract various wildlife..............:Dwith some more land get 300 chickens and sell the eggs...........:D..................do a little bit of everything ..........make part of it into allotments ........or give it to me if you run out of ideas.:T

MoneyJuggler

woodsey2002 wrote: »

Are the stables fixable? If so maybe consider renting out the stables with the land for horses, friend of mine did this years ago and did quite well from it.

Thanks , will try and find out what going rates is

MoneyJuggler

betsie wrote: »

Could you get a licence to hold boot fairs on it in the summer - the field across the road runs them from June to end sept. Charges £10 a pitch plus 50p a car and 20p a walk in person - they must make quite a bit. Not sure what licences you would need though.

Good idea, will try and find out about licences for small events like that -may well be traffic issue tho.... Thanks

MoneyJuggler

olias wrote: »

Does the land have it's own roadside access? If so, you could consider selling as pony paddocks. Round my way a 2 acre pony paddock would sell for £15-30k. Alternatively, as stated, fix up the stables, and rent the land and stables - should be able to easily get £25-£50 pw. Doesn't sound much, but that could be nearly £2500 pa, enough to pay for a nice holiday each year!

Olias

Yes, a track past house -that's useful to know what potential income might be - have also found a couple of smallholding sites now that have some info on looking after grazing land,thanks

MoneyJuggler

shegar wrote: »

I would definately have a wildlife meadow, sow some wildflower seeds etc........and watch all the beautiful creatures , birds, bees ,butterflies, etc come ....and because you have children theres nothing better than getting them interested in wildlife.............put a huge wildlife pond in the middle it will attract various wildlife..............:Dwith some more land get 300 chickens and sell the eggs...........:D..................do a little bit of everything ..........make part of it into allotments ........or give it to me if you run out of ideas.:T

Actually, that would be a fantastic use of part of it , the meadow bit I mean ,thanks